THE ISLAND TRADE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13905, 12 November 1908, Page 5

THE ISLAND TRADE.

" MISUSE QF PUBLIC FUNDS." COMMENT BY MR. NICHOLSON. Mb. Oliver Nicholson* waa questioned regarding the Island trade question at his meeting at lideu Terrace last evening. He eaid that this trade had been developed by the brains and capital of the Auckland merchants—(A V"oioe: "Do you believe in monopoly?")—but the subsidy given to the Wellington service the major portion of the tradeexport and import—would be diverted to Wellington. When anything affecting the interests* of Auckland came up in Parliament the Auckland members were usually asleep, and whoa they came back and found that our interests had been prejudiced, they expressed surprise and wonder how it came about, (Laughter.) When, however, they were represented by a Cabinet Minister, they expected something better; they at least expected him to keep awake, lie subsidy to the Wellington service must have been discussed in Cabinet before it was placed on the Estimates, but there was no roc old of the "potent voice" of Mr. Fowldw being raised against this injustice to Auckland. On the contrary, the Minister had come up to Auckland and had attempted to justify the granting to Wellington of a subsidy six times the amount of that received by Auckland. Mr. Fowlds said that Wellington was entitled to direct shipment of fruit, but he said nothing about the ex- | port trade. I No Aucklander, he concluded, would be- ; grudge Wellington direct shipments of fruit, but it did begrudge the granting to Wellington of a subsidy six times as large as that which it received itself. (Hear, hew.) It waa a gross misuse of the public funds. (Applause.) s PROTEST BY TRADES COUNCIL. Iho proposed direct steamship service from Wellington to Tahiti was discussed at a meeting of the Auckland Trades and Labour Council last night. Mr. Peak said that there was room for two services, and he thought that the Southern ports should have a direct service to the Islands as well a3 Auckland. A Delegate: There is room for only one service to Tahiti. Another delegate said that Auckland had built up the Island trade, and an additional service would have a bad effect 0:1 the local labour market as well as on the trade. Mr. Long said that there was only room for one steamer, and sometimes there was very little cargo even for that one. It was the duty of the Council to protect the interests of Auckland. He moved, "That this Council strongly protests against the inauguration of the Wellington-Tahiti service 3& inimical to the best interests of Auckland and Aucklanders." Mr. Peak said that his previous remarks referred to the Island trade generally and not the Wellington-Tahiti service. Mr. Long further remarked that the Island strainers had been built to cope with the growth of the trade, and Auckland should not be allowed to lose the service which they had built up. • On the motion being put to the meeting it was carried unanimously.